The hunt is on for cruel teen who threw a kitten in disturbing video

A viral video has sparked outrage online and a police investigation into animal abuse. In a video posted to Twitter on Friday, a teen can be seen holding a cat. He then throws the animal in a high arc into the street. Warning: the following video contains disturbing images:

Police in Ontario, Calif., say they have identified a 16-year-old suspect, but he has yet to be apprehended. His name is being withheld from the public due to his age.

The cat, named Spots, can be heard meowing in pain in the video. According to police, the pet survived the incident but fractured one of his legs. The cat’s owner, Perla, told NBC4: “I just want [the perpetrator] to know he hurt a victim that can’t defend itself.”

In a press release, the Ontario Police Department says the investigation is ongoing and it encourages anyone with tips to call in.

Police are still looking for the suspect in the animal abuse investigation.Please refer to the attached press release for additional information. pic.twitter.com/whkkpxHL1f

But outrage over the incident hasn’t been restricted to California. Social media users all over the continent have expressed their anger about the abuse. A Canadian Twitter user wrote: “I can’t even watch the video. So sick that people would go so low to abuse animals”.

I can’t even watch the video. So sick that people would go so low to abuse animals

Even police departments outside of Ontario’s jurisdiction have commented on the incident after reports flooded the Fontana, Calif., PD:

We are aware of a video that depicts the abuse of a cat. We thank everyone for contacting our department with the video. It has been determined that the incident took place outside our city and we are working with the appropriate jurisdiction to find the cat and the suspect. pic.twitter.com/7NE2Ty48py

Spots is expected to recover from his injury. The Inland Valley Humane Society treated him and is assisting police with the investigation.

One resident says he knows the suspect and believes drugs may be involved. “I know who he is,” Oscar Ramos told CBS Los Angeles in an interview, “but I don’t know his name. He hangs around here in the alley all the time. Bunch of little kids doing drugs. They think they’re cool. He probably did it just to look cool on video.”